WHAT IS THE MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE OF AMERICA?

1. The Moorish Science Temple of American was founded by the Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali in May 1, 1913 ; it was headquartered at the old Canaanite Temple building , 7 Rutgers Street corner 12th Avenue, and West Market street, in Newark New Jersey.

a. The Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali named his Movement The Moorish Divine and National Movement of North America, in 1916 (some historians give this date as May 1, 1916)

b. He would later move his Movement from New Jersey to Chicago, Illinois in 1917, where we organized in 1925 as the Moorish Temple of Science. He opened his first temple on October 15, 1925, at 329 East 36th Place, Chicago, Illinois (some historians point to this date as the beginning of the name Moorish Holy Temple of Science).

a. The following year, on November 29, 1926, the Moorish Temple of Science was incorporated as a ―civic” organization under the laws of the Secretary of State of Illinois.

d.. The object of the Moorish Temple of Science, according to it civic corporate status, is to help in the great program of uplifting fallen humanity and to teach those things necessary to make our members better citizens.

a. In 1927, the Holy Prophet adopted the name Moorish Holy Temple of Science; established the Moorish Publishing Co, which published the Holy Koran and the Moorish Guide, with the first national edition being published Sept 1928.

b. The Great Moorish Drama was demonstrated on May 16, 1927, wherein the Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali healed a number of people, etc.

3. On May 2, 1928, the name ― Moorish Temple of Science was legally changed to the Moorish Science Temple of America.

5. And on July 20, 1928, at a special meeting of Mealy El, Small-Bey, Lovett Bey and Foreman Bey, the Holy Prophet changed the organizations ‘corporate status to religious, and its foundation under the Religious Corporate Act of 1872.

a. In the Moorish Leader‘s Historical Message to America, Noble Drew Ali made it clear that the work of the Moorish Science Temple of America was largely religious. An affidavit of Religious Organization (form 1099) was filed August 1, 1928, stating:

5(1) the Moorish Science Temple of America deriving its power and authority from the Great Koran of Mohammed, to propagate the faith and extend the learning and truth of the Great Prophet of Ali in America.

a. In an article in the Moorish Guide he would later state: ―We believe in, and foster the Moslem religion. We have it as the revealed word of God Allah. We believe in the principle of its teachings insofar as they can be adapted to American life.

b. From Chapter 2, verse 26 of the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America, we read: ―And when the world is ready to receive, lo Allah will send a messenger to open the book and copy from its sacred pages all the messages of purity and love

c. The book in Chapter 2, verse 26 is called the Mother of the Book, Surah 30:30 in the Holy Koran of Mohammad and it is from this source that all Prophets receive their Divine Authority.

d. In Surah 10:47 it is read: ―And for every nation there is a messenger. So, when their messenger comes, the matter is decided between them with justice; and they are not wrong. And in Surah 16:56: ―And We raised in every nation a messenger saying: Serve Allah and shun the Devil

Note from the Koran Questions: What is our Prophet to us? He is an Angel (the word Angel is derived from the root meaning Messenger) of Allah who was sent to bring us the Everlasting Gospel (the Good News of purity and Love) of Allah.

e. And in Chp 48, verse 1 it is read: The last Prophet in these days is Noble Drew Ali, who was prepared divinely in due time by Allah to redeem men from their sinful ways; and to warn them of the great wrath which is sure to come upon the earth

d. The Holy Koran of Mohammad teaches in Surah 35:24:Surely We have sent thee with the Truth as a bearer of good news and a Warner. And there is not a people but a Warner has gone among them.

5(2) To appoint and consecrate missionaries of the prophet and to establish the faith of Mohammed in America.ǁ (back Koran Questionnaire)

a. To appoint:Appoint \Ap*point"\ ([a^]p*point"), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. 435 {Appointed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Appointing}.] [OE. appointen, apointen, OF. apointier to prepare, arrange, lean, place, F. appointer to give a salary, refer a cause, fr. LL. appunctare to bring back to the point, restore, to fix the point in a controversy, or the points in an agreement; L. ad + punctum a point.

1. To fix with power or firmness; to establish; to mark out.

2. To fix by a decree, order, command, resolve, decision, or mutual agreement; to constitute; to ordain; to prescribe; to fix the time and place of.

3. To assign, designate, or set apart by authority.

4. To furnish in all points; to provide with everything necessary by way of equipment; to equip; to fit out.

5. To point at by way, or for the purpose, of censure or commendation; to arraign. [Obs.]

6. (Law) To direct, designate, or limit; to make or direct a new disposition of, by virtue of

a power contained in a conveyance; -- said of an estate already conveyed. --Burrill. Kent

to set apart as holy; make or declare sacred for religious use. To make (someone) a bishop, ruler, etc. by a religious ceremony to devote entirely; dedicate to consecrate one's life to art to cause to be revered or honored; hallow ground consecrated by their martyrdom Etymology: ME consecraten < L consecratus, pp. of consecrare < com-, together + sacrare: see sacred

c. Missionaries: Missionary \Mis"sion*ary\, noun; pl. {Missionaries}. [Cf. F. missionnaire. See {Mission}, noun] One who is sent on a mission; especially, one sent to propagate religion. {Missionary apostolic}, a Roman Catholic missionary sent by commission from the pope. Missionary \Mis"sion*a*ry\, adjective of or pertaining to missions; as, a missionary meeting; a missionary fund.

1: someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program

2: someone sent on a mission--especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country [syn: {missioner}]

d. To Establish:1. To make stable or firm; to fix immovably or firmly; to set (a thing) in a

place and make it stable there; to settle; to confirm.

2. To appoint or constitute for permanence, as officers, laws, regulations, etc.; to enact; to ordain.

3. To originate and secure the permanent existence of; to found; to institute; to create and regulate; -- said of a colony, a state, or other institutions.

4. To secure public recognition in favor of; to prove and cause to be accepted as true; as, to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion, doctrine, etc. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established --Deut. xix. 15.

e. The Faith of Mohammad: ―Millata Ibrahim

Abraham, as a true Moslem , is regarded in Islam as the Imam of all true Moslems and the Qur'an, therefore, again and again exhorts Moslems: faattabi'uu millata Ibrahim - "follow the faith of Abraham", alternatively,

follow his creed or form of religion. The true faith that Abraham had, therefore, is called in the Qur'-an, millata-Ibrahim and this very faith is set before all Moslems as the kind of faith they should emulate.

Surah 3:94: so follow the religion of Abraham, the upright one. And he was not one of the polytheists. Surah 6: 162: ―Say; As for me, my Lord has guided me to the right path – a right religion, the faith of Abraham, the upright one, and he was not of the polytheists. Also read Surah 6: 163-166 and Surah 16:120-123

5(3) From the Nationality Card it is read: I do hereby declare (acknowledge) that you are a Moslem under (authority of) the Divine Laws of the Holy Koran of Mecca ...”

a. Surah 30: 30-31: ―So set thy face for religion, being upright, There is no altering Allah‘s Creation. That is the right religion – but most people know not. ―Turning to Him; and keep your duty to Him, and keep up prayer and be not of the polytheists.

b. Surah 3:17: Allah bears witness that there is no God but He, and so do the angels and those who possessed of knowledge, maintaining justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Surely the true religion with Allah is Islam. Surely the true religion with Allah is Islam

c. Surah 22:78: ―And strive hard for Allah with due striving. He has chosen you and has not laid upon you hardship in religion – the faith of your father Abraham. He named you Moslems before and in this – that the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people, so keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector; excellent the Protector and excellent the Helper.

5(4). The 1st Annual National Convention of the Moorish Science Temple of America was held Oct 14-20, 1928, there were 15 subordinate temples chartered throughout the U.S., at that time.

a. It was during this Convention that Noble Drew Ali handed down his Divine Constitution and By Laws, to the newly re-established organization see affidavit of Religious Organization. The Holy Prophet would go on to explain that all rules, regulations and laws of the constitution that may be

enacted and ordered by the Prophet, (will) shall be express and explain in detail, so there can be no doubt as to what is required of each and every officer or member of the organization.

6(2). Because of the fact that the expenses of the operation of the Temple is increasing so fast, it was found necessary to vote a tax to the Prophet to carry on the work. This idea was concurred with by the Supreme Grand Council.

This tax is twenty-five cents per month, per capita. This mean that the number share of the responsibility of the operation. This per capita tax is intended to apply to all members alike, Governors and Grand Sheiks included. The Governor or officer in charge of each Temple will cause a report to be rendered to the Supreme Business Manager of the Supreme Grand Council.” (Moorish Guide, Friday, October 26, 1928, Vol 1. No. 7)

6(3). By the end of 1928, the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple of America was released to the general public (Dec 1928) and a number of auxiliaries established by faithful members, honoring the Holy Prophet Noble Drew Ali.